278 - What Science Teaches Us About Losing Weight and Boosting Energy With Stanford Nutrition Researcher Dr. Christopher Gardner
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Today, we’re joined by Dr. Christopher Gardner, a renowned nutrition researcher and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. In this episode, Dr. Gardner shares his wealth of knowledge and valuable insights into nutrition science, from dissecting popular diets like ketogenic vs. Mediterranean to discussing his groundbreaking study on cardio-metabolic effects in identical twins randomly assigned to vegan or omnivorous diets, featured in the Netflix documentary "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment." Throughout the episode, we delve into Dr. Gardner's research, uncover the...
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277 - Fight MS & Disordered Eating with a Plant-Based Diet! with Dr. Rachael Hunter
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In this episode, we welcome Dr. Rachael Hunter, a distinguished clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in psychology at Swansea University. Dr. Hunter joins us to delve into her groundbreaking research on "Plant-based Recovery from Restrictive Eating Disorders." Drawing from her wealth of experience working closely with individuals grappling with eating disorders, Dr. Hunter offers valuable insights into the transformative potential of plant-based diets in promoting recovery. Throughout our conversation, Dr. Hunter shares her deeply personal journey, including her courageous battle...
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276 - Tips & Tricks to Using Food Scraps in Your Recipes with Plant You Cookbook Author Carleigh Bodrug
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Today, we're diving into the world of sustainable, mouthwatering cuisine with none other than the culinary visionary herself, Carleigh Bodrug. Carleigh's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Growing up on a farm where meat reigned supreme, she later discovered the alarming truth about red and processed meats being classified as carcinogens by the World Health Organization. This revelation, coupled with her personal experience of her father's battle with colon cancer, propelled her toward a transformative shift in her diet. Fast forward to today, and Carleigh has become a household...
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275 - Finding Awe As We Age for a Longer, Happier Life with NYT Bestselling Author Caroline Paul
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Our extraordinary guest today is a true adventurer at heart. From hang gliding to paragliding, from flying small planes to training for the US Olympic team as a luger, Caroline Paul’s life is a series of thrilling escapades. As one of the first female firefighters in the San Francisco Fire Department, Caroline faced challenges head-on. Her autobiography "Fighting Fire" chronicles her remarkable 13-year journey with the department as one of 15 women out of 1500 men. She was also the very first woman on the Rescue team, which was tasked with getting people out of collapsed buildings and...
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274 - Learn to Communicate for a Better World and Deeper Relationships with Dr. Melanie Joy
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Today, we welcome back Dr. Melanie Joy, a renowned psychologist, author, and advocate for compassionate living. Dr. Joy is the president of Beyond Carnism, a non-profit organization exposing and transforming the invisible belief system that shapes our attitudes toward eating and torturing animals. Her groundbreaking concept, “carnism,” has sparked global conversations about the psychology behind meat consumption and its consequences. Dr. Joy is also the author of 6 books, and she appeared on our show in episode 52 to discuss her best-seller Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows,...
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273 - Your Gut Microbiome with Dr. Robynne Chutkan
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Ever wonder why some people who get exposed to colds or the flu get really ill while others experience mild symptoms or don’t get sick at all? Fortunately, today’s guest is here to provide answers to this mystery. An authority on the microbiome, Dr. Robynne Chutkan, is here to tell us all about the remarkable flora residing in our intestines and how feeding it the right foods can promote health, prevent disease, and even help us with our weight. Dr. Chutkan is a board-certified gastroenterologist at Georgetown Hospital, founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness, and author of the books...
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272 - Animal Ag is Killing Us with Climate Scientist Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop
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Humans are the dominant species on the planet, but we have lost sight of our connection to, and dependence on, an ecosystem that we have pushed dramatically out of balance and to the brink of collapse. Today’s guest, Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop, is an Australian environmental scientist, and he is passionate about highlighting the influence of our food systems on climate change. Gerard is currently the executive director of the World Preservation Foundation, but for three decades, he monitored vegetation cover and deforestation as the principal scientist with Queensland Government...
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271 - Should You Care About Farmed Animals? with Lewis Bollard
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Around the world, there are tens of billions of non-human animals trapped in the barbaric system of industrial animal agriculture. And unfortunately, that number is increasing. It’s a severe problem, not just for the suffering animals, but for human health and the health of our planet. Fortunately, there are people dedicating their lives to tackling this issue. And today, we’re joined by one of these remarkable individuals. Lewis Bollard is a dedicated animal advocate making meaningful change on a global scale. He is the Farm Animal Welfare Director at Open...
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270 - Netflix’s You Are What You Eat: A Twin Study Director Louie Psihoyos
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We are very excited to welcome back to the show one of the most visionary minds of our time. He’s an Oscar-winning filmmaker, an award-winning photographer, and a passionate environmental activist. Through his lens, he has captured not only the beauty of our world but also the urgent need to protect it. From his groundbreaking documentary “The Cove,” which exposed shocking animal abuse in Japan, to his awe-inspiring projects like “Racing Extinction” and “The Game Changers,” Louie Psihoyos has consistently pushed the boundaries of storytelling to inspire action and ignite...
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269 - How Big Food is Making You Fat & Sick with Nutrition Legend Marion Nestle
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Our remarkable guest today is scientist and acclaimed author Dr. Marion Nestle. She’s a Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University and founder of the field of food studies. She’s THE authority on food politics – in fact, she wrote the book on it – and for decades, she has been a transformative figure, working to improve our dietary choices while exposing corporate greed and injustice inherent in the food industry. Dr. Nestle is the author of a dozen books. She appears in the hit documentary Super Size Me and...
info_outlineFighting for justice on our plates goes beyond fighting for the rights of animals.
Between the implications of the USDA dietary guidelines for people of color, the disparity in food access and education, and gentrification pushing low-income neighborhoods deeper into food deserts, we have to confront the food injustice faced by our human neighbors too.
John Lewis, also known as the Badass Vegan, didn’t see a mango or fresh avocado until he moved from Furguson, Missouri to Miami to pursue his MBA. After his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he threw himself into research that revealed a troubling connection between animal protein and the illness.
While he’s joined his love for health and fitness with his business savvy to create VeganSmart, a plant-based protein shake company, he’s also digging into the darker side of food.
John has teamed up with Keegan Kuhn of What the Health and Cowspiracy to confront food racism through the lens of hip-hop and urban culture in the upcoming documentary, Hungry for Justice.
He joins Dotsie and Alexandra in this episode to explore how communities are being left behind in the fight for health and wellness.
You’ll hear how certain populations are being underserved and overlooked when it comes to autonomy over their health -- and what you can do to help.
What we discuss in this episode:
- Dotsie’s trip to Washington, D.C., where she spoke to encourage the USDA to remove dairy from the food pyramid
- Are we confusing what’s normal with what’s right? How John’s perspective of food evolved between his move to Miami and meeting with the doctor who encouraged him to try vegetarianism
- The diagnosis that rocked John’s world and challenged him to research lifestyle versus genetic diseases
- John’s journey ditching dairy for good and how he’s encouraging others to make the switch
- The impetus for creating Hungry for Justice, the documentary exploring food deserts, racism, and injustice through the lens of hip-hop and urban culture
- Food racism and dairy: Racial disparities in our ability to digest cows’ milk, and why more people of color are “lactose normal”
- Category Killers: How chain store giants are proliferating the effects of food injustice
- Understanding the intersection between race and food, and why it’s so important for more privileged voices to speak up against food injustice
- Follow John on Instagram at @badassvegan and on his website at BadAssVegan.com, or email him at [email protected]
Connect with Switch4Good
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- Website: switch4good.org